New Homes- A Dream Come True: Essential Decorating Tips

You have jumped every hurtle, and dodged everything the bank could throw at you. Congrats, the race is finished, and it’s time to slow down for the fun part: individualizing your home to reflect who you are. A home is an extension of a first impression, and people will see the real you through not only your belongings but how you choose to display and arrange them. Decorating your dream home should be fun and unique to you.
Know your Personal Aesthetic
This is when you sit down and ask yourself what you want your home to say about you. If you have a lot of books, how do you want to present them? If your Hummels need a home, what kind of home do they get? Are you a slick city person with an interest in collecting art, or a suburban dad/mom with a vinyl collection and the full complement of KitchenAid mixer attachments? Are you beach people? What can you tastefully include in your decorating that says, life’s better at the beach?

Research to Reality
You have a vague idea of what you want to say, now how do you go about decorating a new home? Do you go for super modern with all brushed metal, or super-comfy custom solid wood furniture? Go beyond the decorating shows on TV. Go down to your local bookstore or magazine shop and start picking up everything and anything for ideas. Open up a Pinterest account, Talk to Jamco Wood Products Ltd, or check out Houzz.com to see how normal, every-day people have created their spaces. If you do see something on TV or online but think it will be too expensive, check around at Target or Bed Bath and Beyond to see if those stores have low-cost imitations.

Art Work and Family Photos
Art work without frames belong in the basement, or in the kids’ rooms. Spend a weekend afternoon checking out local art galleries and shops for local talent. Ikea always has a wide and cheap selection of frames and art. Stop by your local framing shop to see your options and keep in mind framing more than just 2d art.

Play with Paint
An inexpensive way to dramatically change the look and feel of any room is with a quick coat of paint. Any of the major paint websites are going to feature a paint visualizer. Try to get a little adventurous and see what happens if you paint three walls in a room a bright color and then do the fourth in a darker contrasting one. Stop by your local paint store and pick up swatches to test. If you do paint a test portion, sleep on it and approach it with a fresh perspective the next morning. Remember: paint isn’t forever, and can always be redone.

Replacing Lights
Another easy decorating trick is swapping out the light fixtures. If you aren’t sure where to start, ask a professional for assistance first. Older homes especially seem to have antiquated light fixtures that were fresh back when Sinatra was alive. Online or in stores, you can pick up cheap, sleek new ones that will illuminate your home in a new way for years to come.

Make Sure it Fits
Measure your furniture, current and to be, to make sure the space you’re moving to is big enough to accommodate it. Newspaper can be used as a stand in to lay out a floor plan. Nothing’s worse than having a super awesome leather couch that overpowers the room. When going to home stores, be aware of the space you are filling, and always bring a tape measure.

Ultimately, you’re the one living in your home for a while. It will provide a welcome space for guests and family as well as be a place of comfort to relieve stress and recharge. Remember: decorating a home shouldn’t be a race or a challenge, but a joy to see to completion.